Summary

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted infection with potentially fatal consequences. However the use of a treatment called HIV PEP can prevent infection with HIV following exposure. In the HIV PEP project, we evaluated the feasibility of a province-wide HIV PEP program of care at 24 Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres. The project resulted in ongoing funding for the provision of HIV PEP treatment, offering of HIV PEP treatment included as a standard of care at all 35 Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres in Ontario, as well as the creation of training modules and reference guides to increase knowledge of HIV PEP among health care providers and patients. 

  • Publications
  • KT Tools
  • Acknowledgements

Articles

  1. Du Mont, J., Van, L., Kosa, D., & Macdonald, S. (2018). Exploring receipt of HIV PEP counseling among women sexually assaulted by an intimate partner. Open Aids Journal, 12, 1-5. Read article

  2. Du Mont, J., Macdonald, S., Myhr, T.L., & Loutfy, M.R. (2011). Sustainability of an HIV PEP program for sexual assault survivors: “Lessons learned” from health care providers. Open Aids Journal, 5, 102-112. Read article

  3. Du Mont, J., Myhr, T.L., Husson, H., Macdonald, S., Rachlis, A., & Loutfy, M.R. (2008). HIV post-exposure prophylaxis use among Ontario female adolescent sexual assault victims: A prospective analysis. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 35(12), 973-978. Read article

  4. Loutfy, M.R., Macdonald, S., Myhr, T., Humphries, H., Du Mont, J., Balla, S., Antoniou, T., & Rachlis, A. (2008). Prospective cohort study of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis for sexual assault survivors. Antiviral Therapy, 13(1), 87-95. Read article

Curricula & Guidelines

  1. (2011). HIV PEP Training module. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: violence treatment centre staff]

  2. Wong, A., Loutfy, M., Tseng, A., Macdonald, S., Rachlis, A., Bainbridge, D., Keeler, J., Maxwell, C., Smaill, T., Toppozini, D., Dayneka, N., Samson, L., Aniol, K. (2011). Ontario Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Treatment Centres (SA/DVTCs) Medical Guidelines For HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PEP) For Sexual Assault Victims/Survivors. [Target audiences: violence treatment centre staff]

Knowledge Translation Tools

  1. (2011). What is my risk of being infected with HIV? [Pamphlet]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: clients presenting to violence treatment centres, survivors of sexual assault]

  2. (2011). Guide to taking HIV PEP. [Pamphlet]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: clients presenting to violence treatment centres]

  3. (2011). Have you been sexually assaulted? Are you worried about HIV? We can help. [Pamphlet]. Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, and University of Toronto. [Target audiences: clients presenting to violence treatment centres, survivors of sexual assault]

Funders

This research was supported by a grant from the Ontario Women’s Health Council (OWHC), an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Revisions to the HIV PEP program materials have been funded by a Knowledge Transfer grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Participating Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres

  • Belleville Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Response Program for Hastings & Prince Edward Counties;
  • Brantford Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program;
  • Brockville Assault Response & Care Centre;
  • Burlington Nina's Place, The Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre of Halton;
  • Chatham Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre;
  • Cornwall Partner Abuse Sexual Assault Care Team, Cornwall Community Hospital;
  • Guelph – Wellington County Sexual Assault Care and Treatment Centre;
  • Hamilton Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre;
  • Kenora Lake of the Woods District Hospital Sexual Assault/Partner Abuse Treatment Program;
  • Kingston General Hospital Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program;
  • London Regional Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Treatment Centre;
  • Mississauga Chantel’s Place, Peel Region Sexual Assault Program Sexual Assault Care & Counselling Centre;
  • North Bay General Hospital Sexual Assault Treatment Centre;
  • Orangeville Dufferin County Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Program;
  • Orillia Simcoe County/Muskoka Regional Sexual & Domestic Assault Program;
  • Peterborough Regional Health Centre Sexual Assault /Domestic Violence Program;
  • Richmond Hill Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Care Centre of York Region;
  • St. Catharines Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Treatment Program – Niagara;
  • Sarnia Bluewater Health Sexual Assault/Domestic Assault Treatment Centre;
  • Sault Ste. Marie Sault Area Hospitals Sexual Assault Care Centre/Partner Assault Clinic;
  • Sioux Lookout Assault Care and Treatment Program;
  • Smiths Falls Lanark County Sexual Assault Program;
  • Toronto Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre; and
  • Windsor Sexual Assault Treatment/SAFEKIDS.  

Research Team

  • Co-Principal Investigator: Anita Rachlis, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Toronto;
  • Co-Principal Investigator: Mona Loufty, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Toronto;
  • Co-Investigator: Terri Myhr, Research Facilitation Office, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health;
  • Co-Investigator: Sheila Macdonald, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres;
  • Co-Investigator: Janice Du Mont, Violence and Health Research Program, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health;
  • Database Manager: Terry Leeke, Research Facilitation Office, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health; and
  • Project Coordinator: Heather Humphries, Research Facilitation Office, The Centre for Research in Women’s Health.

Collaborators

HIV PEP Study Project Advisory Committee

  • Mary Carter, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Treatment Program, Sudbury;
  • Sue Comay, BC Women’s Hospital Sexual Assault Service;
  • Linda Mansfield-Smith, Sudbury;
  • Margaret McGregor, BC Women’s Sexual Assault Service;
  • Susan McNair, Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Centre, London;
  • Rai Therrien, STD/HIV program, Northwestern Health Unit;
  • Monica Vautour, Sexual Assault/Domestic Assault Treatment Program, Sarnia;
  • Julie Phillips, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre;
  • Lindy Samson, Infectious Diseases, CHEO;
  • Fiona Smaill, Infectious Diseases, McMaster University;
  • Philippe El-Helou, Infectious Diseases, McMaster University;
  • Claire Touchie, General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Ottawa;
  • Alice Tseng, Toronto General Hospital;
  • Erin Cooper, Ontario Women’s Health Council; and
  • Lorraine Schiedel, Public Health Branch, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.